In The Zone

Nicola is an avid environmentalist who saw an opportunity to encourage communities to steward the soil, grow edibles and increase pollinator corridors in under-utilized green spaces. Through her commitment to increasing community awareness of sustainable

ecological land practices, she has been recognized as one of Canada’s “Top 100 Black Women to Watch 2016”, City of Kitchener Environmental Leader 2019 and a Heart of the City National Park Delegate. Nicola has been mentored by top permaculturists from around the world and shares her knowledge internationally through educational talks, seminars, one-on-one mentoring, hands on practical workshops, consultations, board of director memberships and restorative landscape design.

Peter Croal is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, and has a B.Sc., Geology Degree from Carleton University (1979). Since then Peter has been working in the field of International development for over thirty-35 years. He focuses on the relationship between environmental resources and poverty in developing countries, and the Canadian  Arctic. Peter is particularly interested in how climate change affects developing countries, and how the knowledge of Indigenous peoples can be applied to developmental challenges.  He  also works on expedition cruise ships to Antarctica and the Canadian Arctic as a guide and lecturer. His work has taken him to over forty developing countries, including a two-year stint of living and working in Namibia with his family. Peter started his career prospecting for uranium, zinc, silver, petroleum, peat, and groundwater in Canada. He sits on the boards of several not-for-profit development organizations. 

In 2015 Peter started a reconciliation project called the National Healing Forest Initiative. The project is an invitation to Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, institutions, and individuals to create green spaces across Canada to honour residential school victims, survivors, and their families, as well as murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls, and children who have been removed from their families and are now caught in the welfare system. You can learn more by going to: https://www.nationalhealingforests.com. Peter spent fifteen years as a wilderness canoe guide for Nature Ontario. In his spare time, Peter enjoys photography, cultural and adventure travel, organic gardening, and fiddle playing. 

Adam Braun is a passionate professional in the Landscape Industry with a deep rooted devotion for his trade - He's a sales and project manager for the landscape division of Absolute Home Services, owner and operator of Belleview Landscapes, teacher of landscape construction at Seneca College, Landscape Ontario Professional Development Committee member, and served as a "Subject Matter Expert" for CNLA during landscape industry certification reform. Also, a Disney Fanatic. 

Koral Wysocki is a strategic leader passionate about addressing diverse challenges through an environmental lens. As Program Manager, she supports teams at Carolinian Canada and World Wildlife Fund to accelerate a cultural shift toward values of connectedness to nature, responsible stewardship and energized community. Koral completed her Masters of Science in Conservation and Community Development, specializing in the systematic evaluation of conservation programs with integrated social justice goals.